MONTREAL (Reuters) - Argentina and other major South American food exporters warned on Wednesday that world trade talks will fail unless the United States and the European Union deliver a plan by mid August to open up agricultural markets.
"If we don't have broad agreement on market access in the next 15 days, then there is not much to talk about," the negotiator, Martin Redrado, told Reuters. "That's our position and that of Brazil and Chile."
Canadian Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced earlier on Wednesday that the United States and European Union had committed to produce a farm market access paper by mid-August.
Twenty-five ministers ended three days of talks in Montreal on Wednesday aimed at kickstarting World Trade Organization negotiations that have missed several deadlines. A meeting of all 146 WTO members is set for Cancun, Mexico, in September.
"The meeting held in Montreal was candid, and we had discussions that were more targeted on the (farm market access) issues on the understanding that we compromise to keep a high level of expectations for the Cancun meeting," said Luiz Fernando Furlan, Brazil's trade minister.
But among developing countries, Brazil and Argentina favored a plan that would reduce import tariffs on farm products faster than a rival proposal supported by India.
The head of India's delegation, Arun Shourie, said it was important not just to reduce tariffs but to confront other barriers as well.
"The way to succeed in Cancun is to focus on doable items. Lowering tariffs is one thing, but some countries use other devices like phytosanitary (health) rules or non-tariff barriers," said Shourie, India's privatization minister.
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